Solar in North Carolina Slowly Arriving

Duke Energy finishes N.C. solar farm

January 31, 2011 - Duke Energy and Beltsville, Md.-based solar energy services provider SunEdison announced Wednesday that a solar farm in Davidson County is complete.

The farm, which covers 200 acres of land, will create enough energy to power more than 2,600 homes a year.

With 63,000 photovoltaic ­­ solar panels, it’s the second largest active solar photovoltaic deployment on the East Coast.

"Solar energy continues to increase in its importance to N.C. customers," said Brett Carter, president of Duke Energy North Carolina, in a statement. "Partnerships, like the one with SunEdison, have allowed Duke Energy to comply with North Carolina's solar requirements in a cost-effective way." {continued}

NARENCO Completes Installation of PV Array for Charlotte Douglas International Airport

January 31, 2011 - National Renewable Energy Corporation (NARENCO), a leading solar project developer and contractor, has completed the installation of a 306 kW DC solar power system on the roof of the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport Maintenance Facility.

The solar power system is the largest installation for the City of Charlotte and the Airport. The system consist of 1330 – 230 watt photovoltaic panels generating 404 MWh/yr of electricity, which is enough electricity to power 60 Homes and avoid 313 tons of CO2 annually. The system will be owned by NARENCO and leased to the Airport through a 20-year lease agreement. The Airport will sell the power and Renewable Energy Credits (RECS) to Duke Energy under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).

“We are pleased to have brought the solar power system to fruition with NARENCO.” said Airport Manager T. J. “Jerry” Orr. CLT is now one of a handful of airports in the world utilizing solar technology. “ {continued}